"Truly, it is the indescribable sweetness of contemplation which you give to those who love you. In this you have shown the tenderness of your charity, that when I had no being you made me; and when I strayed away from you, you brought me back again to serve you and commanded me to love you." The Imitation of Christ

Sunday, 24 October 2010

My Daddy Taught Me Good...

My father died when I was 15. I was his little girl, and there were a few things he thought I should know. One of them was how to defend myself - and, to this day, I remember his demonstration...

"If attacked from behind," he told me solemnly, "stomp on the man's foot, hard, so you break his instep, then move your elbow sharply back into his solar plexus... also, don't punch a man on the chin. You're a girl, and that sort of knock-out needs a lot of force. Hit him on the nose with the heel of your hand, sharply upwards, to break the bones and drive them into the skull... oh, and stick your fingers into his eye sockets. Right in..."

I haven't ever had to make use of the advice, fortunately. But I was reminded of it by this little snippet from Creative Minority Report - a news report of a robbery attempt which got turned into a musical masterpiece...

My daddy also taught me what to do if I was in a hostage situation and the SAS made a rescue attempt.* I have no idea why he felt that was necessary fatherly advice, and so far I haven't had to use that either...

* Just in case you are interested - "Get down on the floor when the stun grenades go off, keep your hands open out in the clear, and don't move until you're told to!"

Year For Priests

About Me

I have given up describing myself as a young Catholic woman, but I don't quite feel ready to call myself "middle aged." Is there anything in between?
I came back to the Church in September 1992 after what I consider to be a Damascus Road conversion, and guess you could call me a Trad by inclination.
I'm a single woman living and working in the world (as a Science teacher), and I took private vows in December 2002.